SCOUTS across the country set to “Mobilize” for Starship

Saturday the 19th of May marks the beginning of the “Let’s Mobilize” campaign – a nationwide fundraising initiative undertaken by SCOUTS New Zealand in support of the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal.

Scouts groups will be hitting the pavement across the nation over the next two weeks, collecting old mobile phones through door to door collection, and encouraging local organisations to collect phones and place them in collection boxes distributed around the country.

“Scouts across New Zealand are excited about going out into our communities, getting mobilized to do our bit, and collecting as many phones as we can.
“We have many Scouts nationwide who have experienced the services of Starship Hospital, and this initiative sees us banding together not only to fundraise for our own outdoor programmes, but in support of Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service, which provides important and life-saving assistance to many kids in our country,” says SCOUTS New Zealand’s CEO, Chris Hooper.

Both organisations are already getting great feedback and support for the “Let’s Mobilize” campaign.

“We are very grateful for the support offered to the Starship Foundation by SCOUTS New Zealand through this great new initiative. It’s fantastic to know SCOUTS kids all over New Zealand will be out there getting mobilized in support of Starship's Mobile Phone Appeal,” says CEO of the Starship Foundation, Brad Clark.

The collection drive will be officially launched this Monday the 21st of May, by Her Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown. Special guests also include the Minister for the Voluntary Sector, Hon Jo Goodhew, and SCOUTS Adventure Plus Ambassador and first double amputee to climb Mount Everest, Mark Inglis.

SCOUTS New Zealand will be actively collecting phones from Saturday the 19th of May until Sunday the 3rd of June. Collection boxes for the “Let’s Mobilize” campaign and also boxes for the wider Starship Mobile Phone Appeal will remain in the community year-round.

Ends.

Questions and Answers

Q. What is the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal?
A. The Starship Mobile Phone Appeal is a national fundraising initiative running since February 2009. The ongoing appeal has raised over $1.5 million since inception through donated old and unwanted mobile phones. Phones are on-sold in emerging world markets or recycled in support of the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal.

Q. What is “Let’s Mobilize?”
A. “Let’s Mobilize” is an environmentally friendly and sustainable nationwide fundraising campaign by SCOUTS New Zealand in support of the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal.

Q. What happens to the phones collected?
A. All mobile phones are sent to a recycler, Folamh. Working phones have resale value and are recycled for use in developing countries, which is how funds are raised. Any unusable phones or parts are responsibly recycled.

Q. What happens if there is personal information on my old mobile phone?
A. Sim cards should be removed from donated phones. If they are accidently left in, they are carefully destroyed, and any information remaining on the phone is wiped before they are on-sold.

Q. Who will benefit from the money raised?
A. The money raised will be equally divided between the Starship Foundation and SCOUTS New Zealand. The money raised from the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal is used to help fund Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service which brings children from all over New Zealand to Starship for specialist care. SCOUTS NZ will use its proceeds to deliver safe adventure programmes and experiences for young people throughout New Zealand.

Q. How long is the drive?
A. The “Let’s Mobilize” collection starting date is Saturday the 19th of May. Phones will be actively collected by Scouts until the 3rd of June 2012. The Starship Mobile Phone Appeal, however, is an ongoing fundraising activity.

Q. Can phones be donated at other times of the year?
A. Yes, collection boxes for the “Let’s Mobilize” campaign and also boxes for the wider Starship Mobile Phone Appeal will remain in the community year-round. Phones can be donated to either organisation at any time.

Q. Will the “Let’s Mobilize” collection drive run every year?
A. Yes, this is an annual SCOUTS New Zealand campaign supporting the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal. In 2013 the collection dates will move to March to take advantage of daylight saving.

Q. “SCOUTS” vs. “Scouts”.
A. When referring to SCOUTS New Zealand, the organisation, it is requested that the word “SCOUTS” is fully capitalised. In all other instances, such as “Scouts groups”, Scouts does not require full capitalisation.

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